Work support



May 22%, 1923. 1,456,040

w. 'T. B. ROBERTS WORK SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12 1920 Patented May 22, T1923.

UtlllTliD STATES WILLIAIJI THOM'AS BUCKING-HATEB-OBERTS, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

'i/VORK SUPPORT.

Application filed February 12, 1920. Serial No. 358,023.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM THOMAS BUcKiNGIiAM Ronnnrs, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicester shire, England, have invented certain Improvements in \Vork Supports, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to work supports for machines used in bottoming shoes, such as nailing machines or other metallic fastening inserting machines or sewing machines, and pertains particularly to that type of work support comprising an element for directly engaging and supporting the work and over which the work is moved during successive operations of the machine. For con venience of description, the work engaging and supporting element will be hereinafter sometimes referred to in the specification and claims as a horn. As so used, the term horn is intended to include various forms of said element, for instance both curved and straight forms.

The invention has, for its particular object, to provide a work support which will have capacity for ready adjustment of the horn to meet the varying requirements of (li'lierent work upon which the machine may, at different times, be required to operate, and which will enable the operator readily to determine the position ofadjustment of the horn required by any piece of work and yet be generally convenient to manufacture and use and to maintain in condition.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a horn freely rotatable about a supporting member mounted for up and down movement to effect adjust-- ment of the horn and devices for latching the horn to the supporting member to enable the supporting member and consequently the horn to be adjusted by manipulation of the horn.

Another importantfeature of the invention resides in the provision in a work support of the type comprising a work supporting post projected from the machine frame by yielding means and arranged to be depressed in each cycle of operations of the machine against the yielding means, of novel connections between the post and the depressing mechanism constructed to permit relative adjustment of the post and the de pressing mechanism and means for varying the amount of normal projection of the post from the machine frame upon such adjustment. The work supporting post is preferably projected from the machine frame by. a spring, and in accordance with a still further feature of the invention the character of the connections between the post and the depressing mechanism and the construction of the means for varying the amount of normal'projection of the post from the machine frame are such that by a single adjustment the amount of normal projection of the post from the machine frame may be varied without changing the tension of the spring.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a fastening inserting machine having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the work support showing the means for adj usting the horn post in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjusting mechanism for the horn post taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. and looking in the direction of the arrow, and

Fig. t illustrates the devices for securing the horn to the horn post.

The illustrated machine is a well-known form of fastening'inserting machine designed for the insertion of loose nails. It comprises a column 2 upon which is mounted a head l carrying a hopper 6 which constitutes a source of supply of nails to the nail insert ing instrumentalit-ies of the machine. The hopper 6 and the nail inserting instrumentalities are operated from a shaft 8 journaled in the head 4 and controlled through suitable clutch mechanism by a tread'le 9.

The work is presented to the machine against the under surface of a presser plate 10 and is upheld against the plate 10 by a work-engaging and supporting element 11 which, as shown, has the form of a curved horn. The horn 11 is carried by a member 12 mounted to rotate freely on a horn post 13 sleeved into an extension 14 rising from the column of the machine. As shown, the

member 12 is supported on the horn post 13 by a shoulder 15 on the horn post. The up turned lower end of the horn 11 is received in a split bearing in the member 12 and is positioned vertically in the hearing by a shoulder 115 on the horn. The horn may be clamped in its hearing by a screw 16. When the screw 16 is slackened, the horn may be turned so as laterally to adjust its tip with relation to the horn post 13, andthe horn may then be secured rigidly in position in its hearing by again tightening the screw 16. The horn post 13 isconnected at its lower end to a carrying member or spindle 17 operatively mounted in the machine frame and. having coiled about it a spring 18 tending to move the spindle 17 upwardly and thereby to press the work against the plate 10. In order to facilitate the movement of the work over the horn 11, the spindle 17 andfconsequently, the horn post 13 is depressed in each cycle of operations of the machine.

To this end, a rod 20 at the rear of the machine is connected to the spindle 17 by a lever 22 fulcrumed at 24 on the machine frame and is raised to depress the spindle 17 by a second rod 26 to which movement is imparted from the main shaft Sand which is provided. with a pawl 28 adapted to engage ratchet teeth formed on the rod 20. The portion of theframe of the machine adjacent to the lower end of the horn post 13 serves as an. abutment against which a collar 30 on the horn post acts to:- limit the amount of normal projection of the horn post by the spring A. washer 32 may be, and as shown is. nterposed between the collar 30 and the machine frame. 1

The construction and arrangement of the pawl 28 and the teeth on the rod 20 are such as to cause the horn 11 to lower the work lrom the presser plate 10 by equal amounts the work.

regardless of variations in the thickness of 1t is found, however, in the use of work supports of the character hereinbe- :lore described that when the thickness of the work differs very greatly the work support does not operate e liciently, one reason for this being that the degree of tension of the spring 18 varies'in directratio with the thickness of the work. For instance, when work of relatively great thickness is placedv on the horn 11, the tensionof the spring 18 is correspondingly increased. Accordingly, it is necessary in order to enable the work support to operate efliciently for the horn 11 to be adjusted with relation to the spindle irom the horn 11.

with the relative adjustments of the horn post and the spindle 17 For illustration, if the horn post 13 is screwed down on the spindle 17 to adjust it to work of greater thickness than that previously operated upon, it is desirable that the amount of proj ection of the post from the machine frame as determined by the collar 30 shall be de creased, thus lessening the extent to which it is necessary-for the operator to lower the post in placing work on and removing it In order to enable "the amount of normal projection of the horn post 13 from the frame to be changed when adjustment of the horn post on the spindle 17 does not affect in any way the relation between the collar, 30 and the spindle 17/ Consequently, the tension of the spring 18 will be the same in all positions of normal adjustment of the horn post 13'. ()ne of the advantages of this construction is that it establishes uniform conditionsof operation of the machine inasmuch as the resistance opposed by the spring 18 to the lowering of. the horn post from normal position to facilitate the placement of work on or removal of work from the horn 11 will remain constant regardless of adjustments of the horn post. In order to enable the horn post'18 tobe'secured rigidly in adjusted position, the hollowed lower end of the post is slitted, as shown at 34, and the collar 30 issplit, as indicated at 36 (see Fig. A

screw 38 seated in a ring 40 embracing the collar 30 serves to clamp the collar 30 and the slitted partofthe horn post 13 on the spindle 17. As shown, the screw received in a slot 42 in the collar 30. A. stud 44 threaded into the frame 2 of the machine is received in an elongated slot 46 discontrolling and adjusting means is con- 1 cerned, the rotation of the post may be ettfected in various ways. In the present in stance of the invention, however, the member 12, which carries the horn 11 is provided with devices for securing said member to the 88 is formed with a reduced end adapted to be horn post 13 so that rotation of the horn post 13 and consequent adjustment of the horn 11 may be effected through manipulation'of the born. 7 devices comprise a latch pin 50 urged irwardly by a spring 52 to engage the nose of the pin in a notch 51' formed in the horn post. The latch pin 50 is provided with a stud 54 received in a slot on notch 56 in the member 12,- the construction being such that when the stud 5% is engaged in the notch 56, the la ch pin 50 will be moved into latching engagement with the horn post whereas when the stud 54 is withdrawn from the notch 56 and engaged with the outer surface of the member 12, the latch pin 50 is maintained out of latching engagement with. the horn post.

A scale 58 is fixed by screws 60 adjacent to an opening formed in the sleeved extension 14 of the column 2 and an index mark 62 is provided on the horn post 1.3. By this meansthe thickness of the work being operated upon may be readily ascertained and i the suitable length of fastening to be used in accordance therewith determmed.

IVhen work is being operated upon by the machine, the latch pin will be disengaged from the, notch 51 in the horn post 13, and

the horn 11 will then be free to rotate about the horn post. During the operation of the machine also the screw 88 will be tightened to clamp the collar 30, the horn post 13, and the spindle 17 together so as to prevent relative rotation of such parts when the horn 11 is rotated on the horn post 13. When it is desired to adjust the height of the horn 11, however,'the screw 38 will be slackened, and the latch pin 50 will be engaged in the notch 51 of the horn post. The operator may then use the horn 11 as a hand lever to rot-ate the horn post 13 and to raise or lower it as desired through the collar 30. The amount of vertical adjustment of the horn 11 will be readily seen on the scale 58. c

When it is desired to measure the thickness of the work to be operated upon and to determine thereby the correct length of nails to be used, the horn 11 will be adjusted vertically until the index mark 62 is opposite the minimum on the scale 58. The horn will then be lowered by the usual horn lowering treadle 64-v and thevwork placed on the horn. When the horn is raised, the thickness of the work clamped by the horn against the presser plate 10 will be readily seen.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Let-- ters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting member, a horn normally freely rotatable on the supporting member, means for mounting the supporting member for up anddown move- As shown, such securing ment to adjust the'horn, and a latch for securing the horn to the supporting member to enable the supporting member and horn to be adjusted by manipulation of the horn.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a horn, a member for sup porting the barn, connections between. the horn and the supporting member constructed to permit the horn to rotate freely on said member during operation of the ,machine, controlling means for the supporting member operable to adjust the horn upon rotation of the supporting member, and means for securing the horn to the supporting member so that adjustment of the horn may be efiected by rotation of the supporting member through manipulation of the horn.

the combination of a horn, a horn post, connections between the horn and the horn post constructed to permit the horn to rotate freely on the horn post'during operation of the machine, mechanism for raising and loweringthe horn post, connections between the horn post and said mechanism constructed to adjust the horn upon rotation of the horn post, and a latch for securing the horn to the horn post so that adjustment of the horn may be effected by rotation of the horn post through manipulation of the horn.

4. In a machine of the class described,a horn post, a hornnormally loosely mounted on the horn post, a. member for supporting the horn post, connections between the horn post and said member constructed to adjust the horn relatively to said member upon rotation of the horn post, and a spring latch for securing the horn to the horn post so that adjustment of the horn post and the horn relatively to said member be effected by manipulation of the horn.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a work supporting post slidably mounted on the frame, yieldin means for projecting the post from the frame, means for depressing the post in each cycle of operations of the machine against the yielding means, connections between the work supporting post and the depressing mechanism constructed to permit relative adjustment of the post and said mechanism, and means operating to vary the amount of normal projection of the post from the machine frame as the post is adjusted relatively to the depressing mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a work supporting post slidably mounted on the frame, yielding means tending to move the post with relation to the frame, a member on the post for limiting its movement by the yielding means, mecha nism for depressing the post in each cycle of operations of the machine against the yielding means, and "connections between 3. In amachine of the class described.

maintainthe relation of the limitingmember the post, and the'limiting member. and the depressing mechanism respectively constructed and arranged to enable the position of the limiting member on the post and,

consequently, the amount of projection of the post from the frame to be varied by a single adjustment and to maintain the relation of the limiting member to the depressing ber against rotation so thatthe position of the member on the horn post and, consequently, the amount of projection of the horn post from the frame may be varied by r0.- tating the horn post, mechanism for depressing the horn'post in each cycle of operations of the machine against the yielding, means, and connections between the horn post and the depressing mechanism constructed to and the depressing mechanismsubstantially unchanged by the rotation of'the horn post.

8. Ina machine of the'class described, a

frame, a work supporting post 'slidably mounted on the frame, a member for supporting the post, yielding means tending to move the'post with relation tothe frame,

meansfor limiting the movement of the post by the yielding'mejans, connections between the limiting means and the post constructed to causerotation of thegpost to effect relative movement of the vpost and'thelimiting means and thus to vary the amount/ 0f pro- 1 jection of the postfrom the 'frame,- and connections betweenthe post and the supporting member constructed to maintain the relation of the limiting means and'the' supporting member substantiallyunchanged by the rotationof the post, j

9, In amachine of the class described, a frame, horn post slidably mounted on the frame, a horn onthe horn post, mechanism for depressing the horn post in each cycle of operations of the machine, comprisinga' spindle, yielding means operating on the spindle, and tending to move thehornwpost 'wi th relation to the fram neans forlimit ing the movement; of the horn post by the;

yielding means, :connections between the limitingnieans and the horn post constructed to cause rotation of the horn post to efiect relative movement of, the horn post and the limiting means and thus to'vary the amount of pro ectioniof the .horn post from the frame, ,and connections between the horn post and the spindle constructed to maintain the relation of the limiting means and the spindlesubstantially unchanged by the To tation of the horn post. I

10(111' a machine of the classdescribed, the combination of aspindle, a horn post threaded. on the spindle, a hornvon the horn post, an abutment tov which the hornpost is relatively movable, y elding means operating on the spindle and tendingjto move the horn post. with -relat1on to the abutment, a member for hunting the movement ofthe horn post saidmemberfbeing threaded on the horn post and ,restralned against r0 tation so that rotation of the horn post will eiiect ad ustment of the horn post and horn with respect to the abutment, and a scale fixed relatively to the abutment for indicatmg the pos tion ot the horn post-with respectto the abutment.

11.111 a machine of the class described,

the combination ofa spindle, a work supporting post thrca'ded on the spindle, an

abutment with respect to v which the post I is relatively movable, yielding means operatof the post, the collar beingconnectedito the post. by threads havinga lead substantially equal to the lead of the. threadsconnecting the post with the-spindle so, that the posting on the spindle and tending to move the post with relation tothe abutment, and, a, collar on the postfor limiting the movement,

may be usted relatively to thespindle and said abutment by rotation jof the post without changing the relation of the collar and the spindle.,. v

12. in a machine of the class described, the combination of aframe, a work supporting post slidably mounted on the j framc, means for yieldingly; projecting the post fromthe, framecomprismg a spindle thread cd into the lower end of the post,aicollar threaded on the exterior of the post for limiting theamount of normal projection of 1 the post from the frame, and means for j maintaining the collar against, angular movement so that, the position of the collar on the post and consequently the amount I of projection on the post from thef-rame will be varied upon rotation of the post to ell'ect relative adjustment .of the post-and 115' 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a spindle, a horn post the spindle.

threaded interiorly on the spindle, avhorn on the horn post, anabutment to whichthe horn post is relatively movable, yielding means operating on thezspindle and tendlng to move the horn post with relation to' the abutment, mechanism operating von the spindle to depress the horn post during each cycle of operations of the machine,ia collar threaded exteriorly ontheho'rn post for limitin the movement of the horn 0st and connections between the collar and the acutment constructed to permit movement of the,

collar with the horn post when the horn post is depressed but to prevent angular movement of the collar.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a horn post slidably mounted in the frame, a horn on the horn post, yielding means tending to move the horn post with relation to the frame, a split collar threaded exteriorly on the horn post for adjustably limiting the movement of the horn post by the yielding means, means for restraining the collar against angular movement with the horn post, and means for clamping the collar on the horn post to maintain the horn post against rotation with relation tothe collar thereby to secure the horn post in adjusted position.

15. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a spindle carried by the frame, ahorn post sleeved into the frame and having its lower end slitted and interiorly threaded to engage the upper end of the spindle, a horn on the horn post, a split collar mounted exteriorly on the horn post and connected to the horn post by threads having a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of the threads securing the horn post to the spindle whereby rotation of the horn post may be effected without changing the rela tion of the collar to the spindle, means operable on the spindle to project the horn 30st from the frame to an extent determined y the engagement of the collar with the frame, controlling means for the collar comprising means for clamping the collar on the horn post to prevent rotation of the horn post in the collar, and connections between the controlling means and the frame constructed to permit bodily movement of the collar with the horn post but to pre vent angular movement of the collar.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a spindle operatively mounted in the frame, a horn post sleeved into the frame and having its lower end slitted and interiorly threaded for engagement with the spindle, a horn on the horn post, a split. collar threaded exteriorly on the horn post, a ring embracing said collar, means carried by the ring for clamping the collar on to the horn post to prevent relative movement of the horn post and the collar, connections between the ring and the collar for preventing relative rotation of the ring and the collar, and connections between the ring and the frame for preventing rotation of the clamp and, consequently, of the collar.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a work supporting post mounted on the frame, means for yieldingly projecting the post from the frame, connectlons between the post and said means constructed to permit relative adjustment of said parts, and means arranged progressively to vary the amount of normal projection of the work supporting post from the frame as the post and said projecting means are relatively adjusted.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a horn post, a horn normally freely rotatable on the post, and a latch for securing the horn rigidly to the post.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a horn post, a carrying member screw-connected thereto, a collar screw-connected to the horn post and arranged for engagement with a stationary portion of the machine to limit movement in one direction of the horn post, the leads of the screws of the two connections being equal so that adjustment of the post with respect to thecar'rying member will not change the relation of the carrying member to the collar.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a horn post, a carrying member therefor, and a restraining member connected thereto and arranged to limit 'movement of the horn post in one direction,

.to the restraining member will not change the relation of the restraining member to the carrying member.

In testlmony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS. 

